3 Georgia State Parks Rank as Tops to Visit in U.S.

HomeToGo’s newly announced 2024 State Park Index found three of Georgia’s state parks to be among the Top Hidden Gem destinations to visit, as well as the Top 50 overall destinations this season!

And we couldn't agree more.

Photo byVogel State Park

As fall approaches with its stunning foliage and perfect weather for outdoor adventures, HomeToGo, the marketplace with the world’s largest selection of vacation rentals, unveiled its 2024 State Park Index, featuring the top 50 destinations to hit the road for stays near protected natural lands. Highlighting both well-known parks and hidden gems, the index is curated based on factors such as park popularity, size, trails, wildlife, and picturesqueness, catering to avid nature-lovers nationwide.

“With more and more travelers becoming interested in visiting state parks as well as national parks, this index serves as a guide for vacationers aiming to plan the perfect escape into nature, without venturing too far from home,” said Eleanor Moody, HomeToGo travel expert and spokesperson.

Encompassing an array of state parks across the country, from the blue waters of John Pennekamp Coral Reef to the otherworldly terrains of the Palo Duro Canyon, the ranking includes destinations for all types of preferences and interests, with all kinds of landscapes and terrain.

Three Georgia State Parks made the list! Cloudland Canyon State Park (#19) and Vogel State Park (#28) made the list for their diverse, lengthy trails and natural beauty. Additionally, Black Rock Mountain State Park was the #7 hidden gem destination, identified by low search volumes and high statistics in the same categories.

• Located on the western edge of Lookout Mountain in northwest Georgia, Cloudland Canyon is one of the state’s largest and most scenic parks in Georgia. With its beautiful rugged geology as part of the Cumberland Plateau, this state park offers ample outdoor recreation, home to thousand-foot-deep canyons, layers of sandstone and shale, wild caves, waterfalls, cascading bear creek, dense woodland, and abundant wildlife.

• Vogel State Park is one of Georgia’s most beloved state parks, and one visit there will show you why. Vogel is Georgia’s second oldest state park and is located in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest near Blairsville.

• Black Rock Mountain State Park near Clayton, GA, is Georgia's highest state park. It encompasses some of the most outstanding scenery in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Roadside overlooks provide spectacular 80-mile vistas, and four hiking trails lead visitors past wildflowers, streams, small waterfalls and lush forests. Their mountainside cabins are amazing.

The 5 Top-Ranking destinations overall were...

1. Letchworth State Park (New York)
2. Palo Duro Canyon State Park (Texas)
3. Hocking Hills State Park (Ohio)
4. Mohican State Park (Ohio)
5. Lake of the Ozarks State Park (Missouri)

Nature-loving travelers can find the full 2024 State Park Index HERE.

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